different foci while viewing an image, the result being increased penetration; but nevertheless I feel sanguine when this method comes to be better understood than it is now, that it will be universally used by histologists for producing permanent as well as faithful records of microscopical structures.

In conclusion, I may say that Mr. Schulze and I are still pursuing this subject, and we have every prospect before long of being able to exhibit much better specimens of photomicrography than the one now placed before the numerous readers of the Glasgow Medical Journal.

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE NEXT INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONGRESS.-It is announced that the eighth session of the International Medical Congress will be held in Copenhagen during the days from the 10th to the 16th August, 1884. The secretaries give this early intimation to facilitate arrangements, and to prevent the clashing of this with other appointments of a like nature.

THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL.-Dr. Andrew Fergus has been again chosen by the Queen at the recent meeting of the Privy Council to act as Crown representative for Scotland in the General Medical Council. The profession in Glasgow were honoured when to that distinguished position, five years ago, one of their number was appointed, for the first time since the formation of the General Medical Council; and they were confident, from the manner in which Dr. Fergus had discharged his duties as President of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, that he would be no unworthy successor of Syme, Christison, and Lister, in the position which they in succession held in the Medical Council. From the great experience Dr. Fergus has had in all matters relating to medical legislation, his re-appointment at the present time is most opportune, as the Government have intimated through Lord Carlingford that next session will see introduced a bill that may profoundly change the whole system of medical licensing, and so modify greatly the present system of medical education. As it is in Scotland believed that Scotch interests will in the proposed

changes need careful attention, it is fortunate that Dr. Fergus is to continue to occupy a position that will enable him to render effective service in a matter so important.

ANTI-VIVISECTION MEETING IN MANCHESTER-REJECTION OF THE RESOLUTIONS.-The direction of the tide of existing public opinion may perhaps be judged from the result of a meeting called on Feb. 1st, in Manchester, by the opponents of experiments on animals.

The proceedings began by the reading of several letters of apology for non-attendance, among which was the following from Mr. Lawson Tait:

I do not know that I can say anything more on the subject of vivisection than I have already published. I oppose the practice on a variety of grounds, but chiefly because, so far as I can see, it is useless and misleading. The British Medical Association has just taken a step which will do more in twelve months than vivisection would do in a century, if we may judge from its past history. I refer to the establishment of a committee for the collective investigation of disease. This is beginning in the right way, and the true progress of medicine will be thereby enormously hastened."

After this a resolution was proposed and seconded "That the practice of vivisection is directly opposed to the fundamental principles of justice and morality implanted by a beneficent Creator in the hearts of men."

This resolution was opposed by Professor Gamgee in a speech which must have been of the most telling description. He boldly attacked the agitators on the ground that they supported their views by grossly inaccurate statements, and by exaggerations of the amount of pain inflicted by physiologists in their experiments. He claimed for physiologists and medical men as strong a sense of humanity and sympathy with animals as that shown by any class of the community, and he repudiated the stigma of cruelty and indifference to the sufferings of animals which had been so freely cast on them. He asserted the virtual unanimity of the medical profession in favour of experiments on animals. Prof. Gamgee concluded by moving, with the alteration of one word, the resolution carried without a dissentient voice at the International Medical Congress in 1881. This resolution is in the following

terms:

"That this meeting records its conviction that experiments on living animals have proved of the utmost service to medi

cine in the past, and are indispensable to its future progress, and accordingly, while strongly deprecating the infliction of unnecessary pain, it is of opinion that, alike in the interests of men and animals, it is not desirable to restrict competent persons in the performance of such experiments."

The chairman ruled that this amendment was not relevant to the resolution. After some discussion the original motion against experiments on animals was put, when it was defeated by an immense majority, the numbers against it being as twenty to one in favour of it.

The next resolution bore that "the practice is not only immoral in itself, but necessarily tends, as is proved by pro fessional evidence, to demoralise those who witness or take part in it." The seconder of this resolution made a speech which contained much unconscious humour. In the course of it a large illustration of an operation on a rabbit was produced from the platform and hung over the front of the chairman's table. The speaker intimated amidst laughter that he would not dine with Professor Ferrier at the same house. He asserted his belief that vivisection would not end with animals, but would extend to the poorer class of our fellowcreatures. He had the greatest possible reverence for the medical profession, but the younger school which was coming up was as unlike the old school as light and darkness.

This resolution was opposed by Mr. Alfred Stocks, M.R.C.S. He complained that the opponents of vivisection were in total ignorance of the facts, and were blinded by an unwise sentimentality.

The resolution was defeated by even a larger majority than the first.

The next resolution was to the effect that "Vivisection may be shown, on the highest medical authority, to be useless as an instrument of scientific discovery, while it has served to suggest and perpetuate grave scientific error."

This was opposed by Dr. Dreschfeld, who said, among other things, that so far from experiments having resulted in nothing, they had within the last few months placed within their grasp a knowledge of the causes of pulmonary consumption.

The resolution only obtained four supporters.

The meeting separated after cheers for Prof. Gamgee.

No. 3.

Vol. XIX.

REVIEWS.

Manual of Gynecology. By D. BERRY HART, M.D., F.R.C.P.E., Lecturer on Midwifery and Diseases of Women, School of Medicine, Edin.; and A. H. BARBOUR, M.A., B.Sc., M.B., Assistant to the Professor of Midwifery, University of Edin. Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart. 1882.

THIS manual consists of 644 pages, with nine lithographs and four hundred woodcuts. As may be inferred from its bulk, it takes up pretty fully the whole subject of the diseases peculiar to women. The first sixty-nine pages are devoted to the anatomy of the female pelvic organs, and this part of the subject is treated very thoroughly, both in the text and by diagrams and drawings from frozen sections. Then follows a chapter on the physical examination of the pelvic organs, also profusely illustrated. In speaking of the uterine sound, the authors recommend that of Sir J. Y. Simpson, which is figured with a handle partly of wood. It has always seemed to us that a handle wholly of the metal of which the rest of the instrument is composed is much to be preferred. Sooner or later the wood, by frequent wetting and drying, becomes loosened from the metal, and chinks and cracks afford dangerous lurking places for dirt.

The authors, while warning of their danger, nevertheless advise the use of sponge tents. Our experience strongly predisposes us to believe with Fritsch that, seeing the impossibility of keeping a sponge tent perfectly free from decomposition, it would be well to banish it from practice altogether. By the use of a bundle of laminaria tents, or one compound one, or with these aided by a dilator such as that of Ellinger, one can obtain access to the cavity of the uterus, sufficient for its thorough evacuation.

In speaking of the treatment of pelvic peritonitis, certain sedatives are recommended for the alleviation of pain. Amongst others Battley's solution is mentioned, and it is called "liquor morphiæ sedativus," the dose, like that of chlorodyne and laudanum, being given as 25 minims. The proper name of "Battley" is "liq. opii. sed. (Battley);" it is about 50 per cent stronger than chlorodyne or laudanum, and if 25 minims were given the sedative effect might be greater than the prescriber bargained for.

In the section treating of ovarian tumours the following paragraphs occur:-"It is better not to operate by this

(abdominal) method when the tumour is small, but to wait until its size is that of a six months' or a nine months' pregnancy. A tumour of this size has displaced the small intestine from its usual position behind the anterior abdominal wall, and has stretched and thinned out somewhat the latter. The abdominal incision is therefore more easily made, and the intestines are out of harm's reach. Of course it should not be forgotten that, when the medical man is consulted, ovarian tumours have usually become abdominal and large." We do not think that this is sound advice. Quite a number of accidents may happen while an ovarian cyst is growing to the size of a nine months' pregnancy. Adhesions may form, rupture may take place, the pedicle may become twisted, or pregnancy may supervene and greatly complicate the management of the case. Again, no operator, working with care, would cut into the bowel in opening the abdomen, if it were not adherent to the anterior wall, and this, of course, would be much less likely in the case of a small than of a large cyst. We believe the advice given by Bantock, that an ovarian cyst should be removed as soon as it has been clearly diagnosed, is well founded and wise.

In the treatment of chronic cervical catarrh the application of medicaments on cotton wool is recommended to be made by forceps or on the ordinary sound. Experience in its use leads us to think that Playfair's probe is a greatly superior instrument for this purpose, especially when the application has to be made to the whole length of the canal.

In the treatment of chronic endometritis there is recommended, amongst other things, the introduction of a solid nitrate of silver point, which is to be allowed to remain in the cavity of the uterus until it melts. We have seen disastrous results from this practice, in the way of pelvic cellulitis and even peritonitis, and would hesitate to adopt it unless most other means had been tried in vain. A method of treating this disease, which we have frequently practised, and which originated with Bandl of Vienna, may be roughly described as follows:-A silver catheter, with many openings in its wall, is introduced into the uterus through a Ferguson's speculum, which is pressed firmly against the cervix. Into the speculum an ounce of a half-saturated solution of sulphate of copper is poured. This reaches the interior of the uterus through the catheter, which is alternately pushed in and withdrawn, so as to bring the fluid intimately into contact with the whole of the mucous membrane, and yet permit its free egress when contraction of the organ takes place, under the stimulation of